Sandra Yamada was the only woman in her class of 18 investment bankers.

A Harvard MBA. A biology major turned venture capitalist.

And now? The founder of NEAP. A first-of-its-kind collagen protein gel changing how we get our protein on the go.

But the story that started it all… involves a protein shake, a work out, and an unforgettable emergency.

In this episode, Sandra shares:

• How one humiliating moment became the spark for a multimillion-dollar idea

• What it takes to walk away from a cush finance career to build something real

• The mindset that helped her go from being “the only woman in the room” to leading an entirely new product category

Brilliant. Humble. Hilarious. This might be the most human founder story you’ll hear all year.

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What happens when a dream, a culture, and a cup of coffee collide?

In this episode, Andrew sits down with Shivani Darsinos, founder of Cafe Babu: Nashville’s coffee-meets-cocktail sanctuary that celebrates heritage, connection, and community.

Named after her grandfather, Cafe Babu beautifully blends Shivani’s Indian roots and her husband’s Greek heritage, creating a space that feels both soulful and universal.

Shivani shares how her upbringing shaped her drive; from a dad who taught her that strength knows no gender (“Who’s helping me lift this air conditioner?”) to the deep pride she feels in building a space that’s for everyone, regardless of where they come from or what they believe.

She opens up about:

• Turning her cultural story into a business that channels people’s energy
• The whirlwind of wearing “one too many hats” as a founder
• The magic of a single cafe that’s a “one-hit wonder” … full of personality, warmth, and love
• And yes… how Joe Jonas ended up performing at Cafe Babu (!)

Through it all, Shivani reminds us that every cup of coffee holds a story; one made with intention, respect, and an incredible amount of love.

If you’ve ever dreamed of creating something that brings people together, this episode will fill your cup.

☕️ Follow Cafe Babu: https://www.instagram.com/cafe.babu/?hl=en

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In this episode of Permission to Shine, I sit down with Nick Luebke: creator, thinker, and host of the new podcast Constantly Curious.

Nick opens up about the five books that most profoundly shaped his life:

• The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller

• A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

• Your Platform Is Not Your Purpose by Blaine Fuhs

• The Bible

• The Inner Work by Ash and Mat

We explore how these works shifted his mindset, deepened his relationships, and inspired his creative journey.

Nick also shares the mission behind Constantly Curious, where he’s already sat down with brilliant voices like Young Pueblo and Sahil Bloom. And—he drops some hints about writing a book of his own.

This is a conversation about curiosity, purpose, and the power of the written word to change how we live.

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Thanks to our key sponsor, Elite Executive Partners — a premier recruiting firm helping businesses scale with top-tier talent.
Whether you need one critical hire, like a CFO, or an entire team of skilled tradespeople, Elite delivers. They work across multiple industries, filling roles quickly with the right fit. Learn more at elitestaffco.com.

$500M+ entrepreneur and serial founder Peter Wokwicz has built, scaled, and invested in more than 60 companies.

In this episode, he sits down with Andrew Namanny to break down the future of money — and why ignoring crypto could be your biggest financial mistake.

Peter explains blockchain, exposes the myths about crypto, and shares practical ways busy professionals can get started safely.

We cover stablecoins, DeFi, tokenization, prediction markets, and how digital assets will disrupt banks, governments, and traditional finance.

You’ll learn:

• Why blockchain is more secure than any banking system in history

• How to earn yield on your money without leaving it in a low-interest savings account

• The coming wave of tokenized real estate, companies, and assets

• What “truth markets” are — and how they could change journalism forever

• Peter’s portfolio strategy for someone starting with $25K in extra cash

Whether you’re crypto-curious or already investing, this is your one-hour MBA in digital assets from one of the sharpest minds in the game.
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Sponsorship & Feedback: [email protected]

Thanks for listening!

Dr. John Holcomb is one of the most legendary trauma surgeons alive.

He shares untold details from Black Hawk Down, where he operated for over 30 hours straight during the infamous battle in Somalia in 1993.

He opens up about the chaos, grit, and brutal realities of combat medicine — and how that moment shifted his mission for life.

Now, he's focused on saving lives before patients even reach the hospital. From pioneering blood delivery systems to taking five trips to the frontlines of Ukraine, Dr. Holcomb’s work is reshaping modern trauma care.

This is more than a war story — it’s a raw look at courage, purpose, humility and what it means to serve on the edge of life and death.

🔊 What You'll Learn:

• Behind-the-scenes of the Black Hawk Down mission

• How Holcomb handled nonstop surgery for 30+ hours

• The innovation driving pre-hospital blood care

• Why he keeps returning to Ukraine to help in war zones

• The mindset that sustains people in the world’s most high-stakes environments

  
  

  You can learn more about his work here: https://prehospitaltransfusion.org/

  
  

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Jess Mah has packed more into 35 years than most do in a lifetime:

9-figure serial founder & Y Combinator alumna personally mentored by Paul Graham

Launched fintech rocket ship inDinero while still a CS student at UC Berkeley (after skipping two grades in high school)

Commercial pilot who captains her own jet

Curator of Outcove Valley, an invite-only summit for world-class leaders

DJ & relentless community builder

In this raw Permission to Shine conversation, Jess pulls back the curtain on success and shares:

The hidden costs of big money, big fame, and an inbox that never sleeps

Why you probably wouldn’t trade lives with most ultra-wealthy people if you knew the whole story

Losing her partner, a decorated vet, to PTSD-related suicide, and how grief reframed her definition of “winning”

Rituals that keep her grounded

Founder tactics: hiring A-players, raising cash when markets freeze, and the underrated superpower of genuine relationships

Big takeaway: Gratitude for the life you already have can be more liberating than any net-worth milestone.

🔔 Subscribe | Review | Share: help us bring more world-class, humble high-performers to your ears.

📧 Feedback & sponsorship: [email protected]

🔗 Connect with Jess Mah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicamah/

🔗 Connect with Andrew Namanny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/

The power of a great network can’t be overstated—and Noah Berkson is an expert community builder.

He's a serial entrepreneur with multiple exits, founder and host of the Dose of Greatness podcast, Co-Founder of Outcove Valley a series of events for high caliber leaders, and a member of YPO.

He’s made 1,000+ introductions in the last year (3 per day!).

We discuss:

✅ Make introductions the right way – Always provide context so both people see the value.

✅ Say yes to everything in your 20s – Opportunities come from showing up.

✅ Pick up the tab – When dining with someone much wealthier, covering the bill makes an impression.

✅ Make friends, not “connections” – Real relationships > transactional networking.

✅ Find your X factor – He cold-DM’d Jess Mah because she flies planes. A unique hook stands out.

✅ Vulnerability is underrated – Being open, stumbling, and failing brings people closer.

Tune in to learn more about the cold outreach, handling objections, and the biggest mistake people make about networking.

Follow Noah Berkson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noahberkson/

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Feedback & Sponsorship: [email protected]

🎧 Listen now to Permission to Shine (#57).

What happens when you leave a thriving business to chase your true calling?

Garrett Adair co-founded VitaFive, a successful gummy vitamin company, but deep down, he knew his real dream was music.

Encouraged by Luke Bryan, he took a leap of faith, moved to Nashville, and is now on tour playing to packed crowds.

In this episode, Garrett shares:
🎸 Why he walked away from a booming business to pursue music full-time
🎸 The challenges of switching from entrepreneurship to the music industry
🎸 How his faith and family shaped his journey
🎸 What it’s really like to go all-in on your passion

This is a story about taking risks, following your gut, betting on yourself, and staying consistent.

Follow Garrett Adair: https://www.instagram.com/garrettadair/?hl=en

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Follow Andrew Namanny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/

Thanks for listening!

Feedback & Sponsorship: [email protected]

What happens when you flatline for over 20 minutes and wake up weeks later, completely paralyzed?

Brad Cunningham knows firsthand. He's the author of Resilience Unbroken: My Story of True Survivals.

In this powerful episode, Brad shares his unbelievable survival story—first battling cancer at 25, spending six months in the hospital, and then suffering cardiac arrest in 2023, where his heart stopped for over 20 minutes.

Doctors weren’t sure he’d wake up. He did.

But he went from marathon runner to wheelchair-bound, forced to rebuild his life from the ground up.

Through it all, Brad learned three lessons that changed everything:
1️⃣ Resilience is a choice—even when you have no control.
2️⃣ The right support system is the difference between surviving and thriving.
3️⃣ Struggles don’t just leave scars, they leave lessons.

This is a story of grit, survival, and the power of the human spirit.

If you’ve ever faced adversity—or want to hear what real resilience looks like—this episode is a must-listen.

Brad is the Founder of Open Horizon Analytics where he utilizes his 30+ years of experience to provide data science expertise.

Purchase Brad's book here: https://www.amazon.com/RESILIENCE-UNBROKEN-Story-True-Survivals/dp/B0DMV96LYF

Follow Andrew Namanny here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/

Follow Brad Cunningham here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradcunningham23/

In this episode of Permission to Shine, I sit down with Tracy Tutor, powerhouse real estate broker, Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles star, and one of the most confident negotiators in the game. 

We dive deep into:

🔥 The LA fires and how they’re reshaping the insurance market

Tracy doesn’t hold back, sharing the mindset shifts that took her from agent to industry titan. 

Whether you're in real estate, sales, or just want to level up your confidence, this episode is for you.

Thanks for listening!

Follow Tracy Tutor: https://www.instagram.com/tracytutor?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Follow Permission to Shine: https://www.instagram.com/tracytutor?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Follow Andrew Namanny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/